Dehydrating and antiseptic toothbrush cabinet



Jan. 8, 1935. o, A DO'N" 1,987,472

DEHYDRATING AND ANTIS EPTIC TOOTHBRUSH CABINET Filed Oct. 30 1933ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'DEHYDRATINGAND ANTISEPTIC TOOTH- BRUSH CABINET 2 Claims.

would be if they are hard and dry.

It is therefore advisable to design a cabinet in which a material can beused which will have a dehydrating as well as a sterilizing action andprovide for the proper circulation of the fumes around the bristles ofthe individual brushes.

The individual brushes are packed for sale in individual containershaving breather openings as well as a drainage opening to provide forthe circulation of the fumes around the bristles of the brushes.

The individual toothbrush containers with the brushes therein are sealedat their open end and the sealed container is wrapped in cellophane orother type of wrapper. The wrapper of the container and the seal isremoved by the purchaser, and the container with its brush therein isdropped into a novel cabinet having a removable bottom on which thecalsorial, having dehydrating and sterilizing characteristics, issupported.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter moreclearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel dehydrating andantiseptic toothbrush cabinet constructed to receive toothbrushes intheir original containers, and subject them to a dehydrating andsterilizing action.

If further comprehends a novel construction of a sealed toothbrushcontainer.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafterappear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawing preferred embodiments of it, which, in practice,will give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to beunderstood that these embodiments are typical only, and that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the exactarrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein setforth.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section of a dehydrating andsterilizing toothbrush cabinet embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the cabinet.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the cabinet.

Figure 4 is a top plan View partly in section of the cabinet having anoblong opening to receive an individual package and a slip fitconnection for the closure.

Figure 5 is a side view of an individual toothbrush package.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the cabinet and closure.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing:

1 designates the cabinet of a dehydrating and sterilizing toothbrushcabinet, embodying my invention. The cabinet 1 is preferably made ofsheet metal and is provided with a top 2 havinga marginal flange 3 spotwelded to the casing, as at 4. The top is provided with openings 5 toreceive the threaded sleeves 6, which have base flanges '7, which arespot welded to the top as at 8. 9 are removable closures, which areinternally threaded to engage the threads of the sleeves.

The cabinet is provided with a removable bottom 10 having a marginalflange to engage the Wall of the casing. The flanged wall of the bottomis vertically disposed and the knobs 12 interlock with the recess 13 ofthe wall of the cabinet.

A flanged metal plate 14 has its flanges spotwelded to the inner wall ofthe cabinet. This plate has openings 15 in alignment with the openingsin the sleeves 6 and serve as aligning members for the individualtoothbrush packages 16. These packages are constructed in a novel mannerto provide individual sealed containers for the toothbrushes which areshipped to the dealer from the factory and sold to the consumer insealed condition.

The individul toothbrush packages or containers 16 are preferably madeof a cellulose derivative, such as for example celluloid, and arepreferably transparent so that the toothbrushes 17 contained therein arereadily visible to the intending purchaser. Each container 16 isprovided with a drainage opening 18 at its bottom, and with breathingopenings 19. The upper ends of the containers 16 preferably have theirmarginal wall deflected outwardly as at 20 to seat on the bevelled upperwall 21 of the sleeves 6, so that the individual toothbrush containersare suspended in the cabinet. The upper end of each container 16 issealed by a removable cover 22 which is removed when a container 16 isplaced in the cabinet 1. 23 designates a renewable dehydrating andsterilizing calsorial which is supported on the removable bottom of thecasing.

The individual toothbrush containers 16 are wrapped in cellophane 24 orother type of wrapper which is preferably transparent and such Wrapperis removed as well as the sealing cover before inserting the individualcontainers into the cabinet.

The dehydrating and sterilizing agent may have any desired form such asa brick, or may be contained within any desired type of carton.

The closures 9 are preferably of colored bakelite and be secured totheir sleeves in any desired manner. In Figure 4, I have shown them ashaving a slip-fit connection with the sleeves, as at 25, the closuresand the sleeves being unthreaded.

The antiseptic and dehydrating material may be renewed whenevernecessary by removing the bottom of the casing. The casing may have anydesired or conventionalform of bracket for securing it to a wall of theroom.

In order that the bottom may be readily inserted and removed, itpreferably has a deflected portion 25 and a bar 26 spot welded to thebottom to serve as a grasping portion.

For securing the cabinet to a wall, it may have a plate 27 spot weldedto it and offset to be received in a bracket 28. The bracket is in theform of a recessed tile which is secured to the wall by adhesive, suchas for example a quick drying cement.

In accordance with this invention, the public is given a method ofkeeping toothbrushes in a more sanitary condition which is beneficial tohealth.

The cabinet is designed in color to fit the color scheme of the bathroom.

The brushes are kept dry and sterile.

The individuals are protected from exchange of mouth and nasalinfections.

The life of the toothbrushes is increased as they are kept dry andfresh, and are protected from germs, bacteria, dust, and dirt.

The calsorial absorbs any moisture in the cabinet and individualcontainers so that the bristles are dried without any injurious effecton the bristles. The chemical action of the calsorial causes sterilizingfumes to be slowly given off and these fumes pass through the drainageopening and breather openings to effect the sterilization of thebrushes.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful dehydratingand antiseptic toothbrush container which embodies the features ofadvantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention andthe above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shownand described preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practicesatisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that theseembodiments are susceptible of modification in various particularswithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention orsacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dehydrating and antiseptic toothbrush cabinet, having closed sides,a removable bottom, and a closed top having openings with sleevessurrounding the openings and extending above the top, a dehydrating andsterilizing agent in said cabinet carried by said removable bottom,individual toothbrush containers supported entirely on the upper ends ofsaid sleeves and having drainage and breather openings, and anindividual removable closure for each sleeve to prevent escape of fumesfrom said containers and between said containers and sleeves.

2. A dehydrated antiseptic toothbrush cabinet, having closed sides, aremovable bottom, and a closed top having openings with sleevessurrounding the openings and extending above the top, the inner upperwalls of said sleeves flaring outwardly, a dehydrating and sterilizingagent carried by said bottom, individual toothbrush containers havingflared open ends to engage the flared walls of said sleeves, andindividual closures engaging the walls of said sleeves and covering saidcontainers to prevent escape of fumes from the containers and thecabinet.

OTTO A. FELDON.

